Charlotte 11, Durham 2. Chris Mason dropped to 0-3 after allowing 5 runs in 3.2 innings…Joel Guzman hit his 4th home run and Reid Brignac was given a night off.

Jacksonville 15, Montgomery 9. Mike Wlodarczyk gave up 8 runs (6 earned) in 3.1 innings…Joh Jaso was 2-4 with a triple and his 3rd home run, he drove in 2 and scored 3 times…Ronnie Merrill was 4-5 and drove in 3.

Palm Beach 4, Vero Beach 3. Scott Kazmir struck out 4 and did not walk a batter, but was touched for 7 hits and 4 runs in 4.2 innings. The first batter he faced and the last batter he faced hit home runs. At one point he did retire 10 in a row…Garrett Groce was 3-5 with 2 doubles and scored twice while Matt Fields added 2 hits including a double.

Columbus 5, Rome 2. Jason Ragan struck out 4 in 5 innings and gave up 2 runs as he improved to 4-0…Emeel Salem was 2-4 and stole his 18th base, in 20 games. Salem leads all of professional baseball and has 4 more than the next most prolific base stealer. Only 3 other players in all of the minor leagues have more than 11.

NOTES FROM DOWN ON THE FARM…

A 10:30 start and confusion over his pitch count left Scott Kazmir less than thrilled following his latest rehab start. [MLB]

“It was frustrating,” Kazmir said following his 64-pitch effort, his second start following a left elbow strain in late February. “I wanted to work on a lot of things and stretch myself out. I felt strong. [pitching coach Jim] Hickey and I were both on the same page, but it didn’t happen…They wanted me finish up in the bullpen, and it didn’t really make too much sense,” said Kazmir. “[My start] was originally set for 70-75 pitches, and we certainly wanted me to go five [innings]. I got done after four innings and I had thrown 54…They said, ‘Finish up in the bullpen. If you had 50 pitches, we’d let you go back out there.’ So I’ve got to have a 20-pitch cushion to go out there for another inning? That’s a lot of confidence.”

Baseball America takes a closer look at the Gabe Gross trade and notes that the Rays dealt from “an area of strength”. [Baseball America]

Baseball America talks to Fernando Perez about the transition to AAA. Our favorite quote is the answer to his thoughts on OBP. [Baseball America]

“It’s the only important stat for a leadoff hitter. When I’m on base a lot, everything goes well for everyone. Fastballs for all, RBI opportunities for the tall guys, runs on the board, excited fans, happy GM, et cetera.”